Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/2239(INI)
The Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law report – annual report 2025
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 29 April 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 27 November 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 14 April 2026
- Tabled for plenary(done) 16 April 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 29 April 2026
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
29 April 2026 · decision 25
EU institutions & Parliament, Resolution
The Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law report
Adopted 387 for · 191 against · 46 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The resolution calls for strengthening the Commission's reporting, protecting journalists and civil society, and ensuring EU funds do not facilitate rights violations.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:Adds a condemnation of amnesties and pardons for politicians, and removes a list of migration practices deemed contrary to EU law. The other change is formal: updates the numbering of Commission recommendations.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The report expands coverage to include accession countries, minorities, and social rights, and adds many new recitals on specific concerns. It strengthens calls for judicial independence, anti-corruption measures, and protection of journalists and civil society. It tightens links between EU funds and rule of law compliance, adding detailed conditionality and monitoring proposals. It enhances the annual rule of law cycle with new phases and interinstitutional cooperation, and expands scope to all Article 2 values. The other changes are wording updates in the explanatory statement.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Fredis Beleris (EPP), Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D), Petra Steger (Patriots), Nicolas Bay (ECR), Sophie Wilmès (Renew), Diana Riba I Giner (Greens)
- Committees giving an opinion
- Budgets· rapporteurJean-Marc Germain (S&D)
- Foreign Affairs
- Legal Affairs
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 29 Apr 2026
AI summary:Parliament's resolution on the Commission's 2025 Rule of Law report assesses the state of the rule of law in the EU and calls for stronger enforcement, better monitoring, and protection of fundamental rights.
Tabled for plenary· 16 Apr 2026
AI summary:This resolution responds to the Commission's 2025 Rule of Law report, covering justice systems, anti-corruption, media freedom, civil society, fundamental rights, the EU budget, the single market, enlargement, and the reporting process.
Committee draft· 17 Nov 2025
AI summary:This draft report responds to the Commission's 2025 Rule of Law report. It calls on member states to strengthen judicial independence, fight corruption, protect journalists and civil society, and uphold fundamental rights, and asks the Commission to improve its reporting process.
Committee opinions: Draft opinion (BUDG), Draft opinion (AFET), Opinion (AFET), Opinion (BUDG), Draft opinion (JURI)
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 4 steps
29 April 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 29 Apr 2026 Report A10-0091/2026Adopted text TA10-0147/2026
28 April 2026
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
22 April – 24 April 2026
20 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
16 April 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 6 steps
14 April 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
25 February 2026
AFET (Foreign Affairs) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
5 February 2026
BUDG (Budgets) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
15 December 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) proposed changes to the draft.
27 November 2025
Referred to the LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; BUDG (Budgets), AFET (Foreign Affairs), JURI (Legal Affairs) give an opinion.
17 November 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/2239(INI)